A Structural Model of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Based on Religious Coping Styles: The Mediating Role of Resilience among Medical Students

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2026)

October 2026

This is an outdated version published on 2026-10-06. Read the most recent version.

Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va Salāmat (i.e., Research on Religion & Health), Vol. 12 No. 3 (2026), 6 October 2026
https://doi.org/10.22037/jrrh.v12i3.47462 Published: 2026-10-01 — Updated on 2026-10-06

Abstract

Background and Objective: The university period is considered one of the most important and challenging stages of life and may be associated with increased psychological problems. The present study aimed to examine the structural model of anxiety, depression, and stress based on religious coping styles with the mediating role of resilience among medical students.

Methods: This descriptive-correlational study utilized structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of medical students, among whom 201 students (139 females and 62 males) were selected through convenience sampling during the 2021–2022 academic year. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS‑21), the Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Data were analyzed using SPSS‑25 and AMOS‑26 software. All ethical principles were adhered to in this study, and the authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Results: The results of structural equation modeling indicated that positive religious coping had a significant direct effect on increasing resilience, whereas negative religious coping was associated with decreased resilience. In addition, resilience had a significant negative effect on depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, positive and negative religious coping styles indirectly influenced depression, anxiety, and stress through resilience, indicating the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between religious coping and psychological problems.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that resilience plays an important protective role in reducing psychological problems among medical students, and religious coping styles may influence mental health by strengthening or weakening resilience. Therefore, enhancing resilience skills and promoting adaptive coping strategies may be beneficial in educational and supportive programs for medical students.

Keywords:

Anxiety
Depression
Medical students
Religious coping
Resilience
Stress

How to Cite

Nazari F, Kianimoghadam AS, Pourmousavi SM, Masjedi-Arani A. A Structural Model of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Based on Religious Coping Styles: The Mediating Role of Resilience among Medical Students. JRRH [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 6 [cited 2026 Oct. 17];12(3). Available from: https://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/jrrh/article/view/47462

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Vol. 12 No. 3 (2026)